BILL NUMBER: SJR 24	CHAPTERED  09/28/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   146
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   SEPTEMBER 7, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Burton

                        SEPTEMBER 7, 1999

   Senate Joint Resolution No. 24--Relative to wildland fires.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 24, Burton.  Wildland fires:  infrared line scan imaging
technology.
   This measure would memorialize the Congress of the United States
to ensure that the infrared line scan thermal imaging technology
developed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection be
deployed in the state by April 1, 2000.




   WHEREAS, The State of California is blessed with vast natural
resources located on federal, state, and private lands that are
annually at risk to catastrophic loss from wildland fires; and
   WHEREAS, California's weather, topography, and wildland vegetation
produce one of the most volatile wildland fire environments in the
world; and
   WHEREAS, The wildland fire risk in California is extreme every
year and huge losses occur annually as evidenced by the horrific
fires of August 1999; and
   WHEREAS, The protection of natural resources in California is a
coordinated effort between federal and state agencies; and
   WHEREAS, The need for accurate intelligence on wildland fires is
critical to the success of control efforts and limiting the loss of
life, property, and irreplaceable natural resources and a significant
element of that intelligence can only be gained by adapting infrared
thermal imaging technology for use on wildland fires; and
   WHEREAS, The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is
the major state wildland fire protection agency, has, on its own,
adapted infrared thermal imaging technology for use on wildland and
forest fires and is capable of making that critical intelligence
available within a few minutes to emergency wildland fire incident
commanders on private, state, and federal lands; and
   WHEREAS, The Department of Defense had participated in the
infrared thermal imaging project by providing an aircraft for the
infrared camera aviation platform; and
   WHEREAS, The Department of Defense was forced to withdraw the
aircraft to support another mission, leaving no aircraft available to
carry the infrared thermal imaging cameras and equipment; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California,
jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully
memorializes the Congress of the United States to take the actions
necessary to ensure that the infrared line scan thermal imaging
technology developed by the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection be deployed for the protection of federal and state
natural resources in California by April 1, 2000; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, to
the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to
each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of
the United States.
